Fly swatter and the like



June 6, 1933. J. L. BENNETT 1,913,223

FLY SWATTER AND THE LIKE Original Filed Sept. 26, 1931 I ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE romvn.

- OI DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO U. 8. MANUFACTURING COR- PORATION, OI DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS I'I-Y BWAT'I'EB AND THE LIKE Original application filed September 28, 1831, Serial No. 565,218. Divided and this application flied Iovember 8, 1988.

This invention relates to improvements in fly swatters and the like, and among the ob 'ects thereof is the provision of a fly swatter aving a fly swatter body of a fabric which is strong in construction, having the required rigidity and flexibility for use and the necessary toughness and strength for manufacturing purposes, and which will not deteriorate from dampness, moisture and humidity and therefore may be cleaned, which is also attractive in a pearance, chea to manufacture and lends itself readily to ecoration and ornamentation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sou ht to be defined in the appended claims, re erence being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and which shows, merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, two embodiments of my invention, it being expressly und rstood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digrcssing from my inventive idea.

In the drawing- Figure 1 represents an elevational view of a fly swatter having one form of a fly swatter body constructed to embody my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a section of one form of fabric used in making a fly swatter body embodying my invention.

Figure 3 1s a view similar to Figure 2 of another formof fabric to be used for the same purpose.

Figure 4 is a cross section through a portion of the fabric shown in Figure 2.

Serial Io. 841,800.

a very limited life, and furthermore, moisture and dampness renders the body of the device as a whole unfit for use. In addition these paper fabrics in some cases at least, do not have the necessary rigidity and flexibility to give the most eflicient operation and results. Wire fabrics break and rust and sometimes become permanently bent and mis-shaped.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, I have invented a fabric fly swatter body composed in whole or in part of twisted strands formed of regenerated cellulose in sheet form. The material itself is referably quite thin and may be rolled an twisted a plurality of times to form a strand of more or less standard thickness for use in fly swatter bodies and the like. These strands may form both the warp and the weft of the fabric exclusively, or may be used with either warp or weft strands or both of other materials, such as the twisted paper strands above referred to.

In weaving the fabric, suflicient tension is used so that the strands of cellulose material are bent or kinked and these bends or kinks remain permanently in the strands so as to lock all of the strands of the fabric in their normal position. Furthermore, these strands of cellulose material give the fabric a normal rigidity and at the same time have suflicient flexibility and resilience to permit fly swatter bodies made of such fabric to act most efliciently and to retain their shape and conformation after long periods of use without permanent distortion, bending or breaking, and also to permit the fabric to be readily folded or bent and sewed during manufacturing processes. These strands of cellulose material may be colored or decorated in various ways so that fly swatter bodies of various colors and having various ornamental designs may be provided.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a fly swatter body provided with a handle or stem 2 and a hand grip element 3 on the end thereof. The swatter body is constructed according to my invention and is made ,of a fabric composed of warp strands 4 and weft strands 5. In this form, each of the strands is composed of a thin sheet of regenerated cellulose material which is rolled and twisted upon itself a plurality of times so as to form a smooth strong, rigid, tough and resilient strand. bus to the act that the strands are made of twisted sheets of regenerated cellulose, they are flexible, resilient and substantially unaffected by water. The swatter body may be bent or folded along lines 6 and 7 and attached to the handle or stem 2 without breaking, crackin or unravelling, and the fly swatter may lie subjected to hard usa e without breaking or tearing along the fol s 6 and 7. A suitable binding 8 may be secured to the periphery of the swatter body by stitching or otherwise. The strands of the fabric are interwoven under suflicient tension so that permanent kinks or bends are formed therein as indicated at 9, (Fig. 5) whereby the various strands of the fabric are securely and positively held and locked in their normal position, and provide an open-meshed fabric body.

In the other illustrated form of my invention, (Fig. 3) certain strands 10 are indicated as being formed of twisted paper twine and certain other strands 11 are formed of the regenerated cellulose material, as above described. Of course, this arrangement may be reversed and the strands of different materials may be used in alternation or other ways. In these forms the cellulose strands are of sufiicient strength, rigidity, toughness and resilience to impart these advantageous characteristics to the swatter fabric body as a whole.

It is, of course, to be understood that these strands of cellulose material may be used in other arrangements by themselves and with strands of other materials, and may be ornamented and decorated or colored 1n various wa s.

X fly swatter embodying my invention has a body which is durable, tou h, flexible and strong, will not deteriorate rom dampness, moisture or humidity and will not mar polished surfaces. It holds its shape due to its construction, is relatively light in weight, and will withstand long use and abuse. The construction will stand considerable handling and bending during the sewing, assembling and other manufacturing processes.

This application is filed as a division of my pending application for Fabric for fly swatter bodies and the like, Serial Number 565,218. filed September 26, 1931.

What I claim is:

1. A fly swatter, comprising a handle and a light, resilient, non-scratching body at one end of the handle, said body comprising interwoven strands certain of which are resilient, non-scratching and substantially unaffected by water and dampness and are made of thin-sheeted regenerated cellulose in the amaze form of strips rolled and twisted into strands.

2. A fly swatter, includin a handle and a fly swatter body which as a relatively light weight and which is substantially una ected by atmospheric conditions, said fly swatter body comprising interwoven warp and weft strands, each strand being formed from a thin, flexible sheet of re nerated cellulose material twisted and rofigd upon itself a plurality of times to form a permanent, tough strand, the strands being flexible, resilient and substantiall unaflected by water so that the swatter dy does not break, permanently deform, or twist out of shape in use.

3. A fly swatter com rising, in combination with a handle, a fa ric body which will not mar or scratch lished surfaces and which is relatively lig t in weight, said bod having interwoven warp and weft stran s and including strands formed of thin sheets of regenerated cellulose material, each sheet being twisted and rolled upon itself to form a permanent tough strand, the strands bein flexible, resilient and substantiall unaflecte by water, so that the swatter dy is durable and does not permanently deform or twist out of shape in. use.

4. A fly swatter, including, a handle and a fly swatter body which will not mar or scratch olished surfaces and which is relatively light in weight, said swatter bod comprising interwoven warp and we strands, certain of said strands being formed of thin sheets of re nerated cellulose material. each sheet bemg twisted and rolled upon itself a plurality of times to form a permanent, tough, reinforced strand, the strands being flexible, resilient and substantiall unaffected by water so that the swatter ody does not break, permanently deform, or twist out of shape in use, said strands being formed with permanent bends or kinks for holding the various strands of the body in proper separated position so that an 0 en meshed bo y is provided.

5. A fa ric fly swatter body which is light in weight, resilient and flexi le, comprislng interwoven warp and weft strands, certain of said strands bein formed of thin, smooth sheets of regenerated cellulose material, each of said sheets beinlg twisted, rolled and compressed upon itse aplurality of times to provide a permanent, tou h strand, the strands being smooth, flexib e, resilient, and substantially unaflected by atmospheric conditions so that a long life swatter body is obtained.

6. A swatter device, including a handle and a light, resilient, smooth body thereon, said body comprising a fabric formed of interwoven warp and weft strands, certain of the strands being entirely composed of regenerated cellulose sheet material twisted and rolled upon itself a plurality of times. 7. A swatter of the character described, including a handle and a light, flexible woven fabric body thereon, said body being composed of interwoven strands, certain of the strands being formed of twisted paper twine and other strands being formed of regenerated cellulose sheet material twisted and rolled u on itself a plurality of times.

8. A y swatter comprising a handle and a light resilient non-scratching body at one end of the handle, said body comprising interwoven strands each of which is made of thin sheeted regenerated cellulose in the form of strips rolled and twisted into strands to form a resilient and non-scratching body that is substantially unaffected by water and dampness.

9. A swatter of the character described, in-

eluding a handle and a light, flexible woven fabric body thereon, said body being composed of interwoven strands, certain of the strands being formed of twisted paper twine and other strands being formed of twisted sheet material of regenerated cellulose.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 5 day of November, 1932.

JOHN L. BENNETTL CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,913,228. June 6, 1933.

JOHN L. BENNETT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 104, claim 4, strike out the word "reinforced"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of August, A. D. 1933.

r M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and rolled upon itself a plurality of times. 7. A swatter of the character described, including a handle and a light, flexible woven fabric body thereon, said body being composed of interwoven strands, certain of the strands being formed of twisted paper twine and other strands being formed of regenerated cellulose sheet material twisted and rolled u on itself a plurality of times.

8. A y swatter comprising a handle and a light resilient non-scratching body at one end of the handle, said body comprising interwoven strands each of which is made of thin sheeted regenerated cellulose in the form of strips rolled and twisted into strands to form a resilient and non-scratching body that is substantially unaffected by water and dampness.

9. A swatter of the character described, in-

eluding a handle and a light, flexible woven fabric body thereon, said body being composed of interwoven strands, certain of the strands being formed of twisted paper twine and other strands being formed of twisted sheet material of regenerated cellulose.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 5 day of November, 1932.

JOHN L. BENNETTL CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,913,228. June 6, 1933.

JOHN L. BENNETT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 104, claim 4, strike out the word "reinforced"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of August, A. D. 1933.

r M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

